Bitcoin Core raises OP_Return limit restriction, sparking heated debate among users
In the world of cryptocurrency, a heated debate is unfolding regarding a proposed change to the Bitcoin network. At the centre of this controversy is the OP_Return limit, a feature that restricts the amount of data that can be stored on the Bitcoin blockchain.
The proposed change, initiated by Bitcoin developer Peter Todd via a pull request, aims to remove this limit. This move has sparked a lively discussion, with opinions divided among the community.
One of the desired applications for a larger OP_Return capacity is the Clementine Bridge from Citrea, a ZK-Rollup for Bitcoin that is compatible with Ethereum's smart contracts. For Citrea to function securely and decentralized, it needs a kind of Watchtower capable of sending 144 bytes of data in a transaction, but the current limit for OP_Return outputs is only 80 bytes.
However, not all developers are in favour of this change. Some, including Luke Dashjr and Jason Hughes, express concern that lifting the limit could make Bitcoin no longer a decentralized currency, not a secure store of value, and not money. They argue that it could lead to blockchain bloat, harming decentralization.
Bitcoin Core developer Samson Mow has stated that decisions within Bitcoin Core are based on a rough consensus, not a democracy ruled by votes. He also notes that there is no consensus to remove the OP_Return limits, and pushing this through is a slippery slope.
Others, like Antoine Poinsot, consider the lack of consensus on removing OP_Return limits to be fabricated and malicious. The controversy revolves around concerns about blockchain bloat; proponents, including some developers and projects, want to remove the limit to store more data directly on the blockchain for enhanced functionality, while opponents worry it could increase blockchain size excessively and harm decentralization.
It's important to note that data in the OP_Return field is stored in plain text and could potentially contain child pornographic images or terror calls. An attacker can now poison the memory of every full node for a few satoshis per byte, a concern that adds fuel to the debate.
The core developers imposed the limit to prevent OP_Return from bloating the UTXO set and to keep Bitcoin from becoming a database for everything. However, with Taproot combined with SegWit, up to four megabytes of data can now be written into transactions, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current limit.
As the debate continues, it's clear that the future of data storage on the Bitcoin blockchain is a topic of great importance and complexity. The community will need to carefully consider the potential benefits and risks before making any decisions.
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